Denture modeling articulator



Sept. 2, 1952 ox 2,608,762

DENTURE MODELING ARTICULATOR Filed Oct. 18 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fig.

Lllll Myron A. Fax

INVENTOR.

Sept. 2, 1952 ox 2,6085762 DENTURE MODELING ARTICULATOR 7 Filed Oct. 18, 1951 ZSHEETS-SHEET- 2 Fig. 4

Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES DEN'IURE MODELING ARTICUIQATQBE Myron R. Fox, Bro'okville, Ohio Application October 18, 195 1, Seiialldo. 35.1.92? i This invention relates-to a dental modeling 'articulator and particularlyto an articulator with tall floating trays for securing them to a bite of false teeth.

In constructing artificial teeth it is customary to take impressions of the upper and lower gums and to mold models from these impressions on which. artificial teeth and g-ums' are constructed. It is a common fault of these artificial dentures that the teethconstructedthereon do not meet in a common horizontal plane. This results in an unnatural bite which tends tic twist the gums or ridges or the face of the wearer so as to produce uncomfortable and i'nefiieient results.

The present invention provides a modeling articulator having an artificial occlusal plane and a pair of modeling trays or leveling trays so posi tioned that they can be adjusted universally so that they fit exactly a plane of the ridges or gums in a patients mouth-after which they are separated from the occlusal plane by an amount exactly equal to the length of the gums and the teeth. Dentures builton these trays will meet exactly level on the occlusal plane so that there will be no twisting or malformation of the ridges bythe teeth.

It is accordingly anf'o'bject of this invention to provide an improved dental articulator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an articulator havin full 'floatingmodeling trays.

It is a further object of this invention to provide-a dental articulator hayingmeans for establishing the -occlusal plane.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with "the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side-elevationoi the dentalmodel-- ing articulator;

'Figure 2 is'atopplan-view'of the articulator;

Figure 3 is a front-elevation of the articulator;

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken substantially on a plane indicated by line 4-4 of Figure 1 showing the position of the occlusal' plate Figure 5 is anenlarged cross-sectiontaken substantially in the plane indicated by line 5' 5 of Figure l and shows the mount for-the modeling tram-and s Figure 6 is an; enlarged view'of the anchor stud for themodels.

From the exemplaryembodiment of the-invention accordin to the drawings, the stand or artic'ulator comprises a base Hl' having a boss 12 8 Claims. (oi. 32-32) about an opening Min which ismounteda stand ard l6 either end ofw'hich will fit the opening hi A P r o tr po tm erm and? e S d ably 'm' ie pn t e. a dar v! 6 a ar p o: id Wit fifi wfll lfi s 32 d '2 t a the a m v i d 2i mw e diu te l l xl in a P it ve 9, he s a dard Iiihe s '3 and flla e dentica a d a th standard it isrever sible either of thei'arms l8 or 20 may be the upper or lower arm as occasion demands. The airmSflB and 213 are mounted in right angular relation to'the stan ard It so aslthe standard it is vertical'the'arms lflaird 20 will-be horizontal. Each of the arms Wand 2,9 is pro vided with an articulated joint 26by which the arms are divid'edint o two portions; the base .p'or tions I8 and it!) andthe tip'portions' '28 and 39.. The portions 28 and: 30 ca'n'be bent about the joints 26 to facilitate workingfon the modeling plate presently to be described. Each of the joints 25 is providedwitljia stop 32 so that the terminals 28 and 350 will be broughtji'nto. and stopped exactly in perpendicular relation to the standard it. Screw means 35 are provided for tightening the joints'z fi' so" thatTthey; will be imm ve der or a rk ec ndi iq Each of the tip portions. 28 and 30 is provided with a pair of guideways' 36 andwflilwhich are herein shown as keyways'." Obviously, any outer arrangement Will do iOrLthe guideways 'iii and 4 il. Mounting sleeves .4? and 44 are mounted on their respective rods 28 and 3i) and each .of the sleeves is provided with adepending keyflil engaging one of the k-ey'ways suchas'tfi. Ea'ch'oi the sleeves 42 and 44 is provided with alocking set screw '46 which isin threaded engagement with an opening 48 and extends into thekeyway 36. By loosening the screw-itfithe sleeves 42 and 44 may be slidalongthear ns 2B and 30 respec iii/91y n then i hte di ai lac pos onin anydesired position. I

Each of the'sleevesdz andj lll is providedwith a mounting post 5!) which terminates in a ball 52. Upper and lower modeling trays" 54 are mounted on their r espectiveballs .52 by"means of sockets 5E. The ballandsoclsetfl and 56 pro vides a completely universalmou ting the post 50 andthemodelingtraysfl."

A collar 58 is arranged around the ball and e r-s n socket joint and a screw .60 isarranged in thecollar to tighten theball and socket. joint to make it immobile after it hasbeen adjusted. Preferably anchor studs fii are' rovided on each of the modeling trays 54. The 1 preferably provided witl i an uneven or anchoring h rin st d 621 is surface such as a groove 54 for conveniently holding the wax or other material from which the models are made. A screw stud 66 may be attached to the head 62 for conveniently attaching the stud to the trays 54.

A central arm is attached on the standard l6 by means of a clamp head 12. The arm 10 is jointed somewhere in the intermediate portion thereof to provide a terminal portion 14 on which is mounted a.plate, rod or other means '15 for establishing the occlusal plane between the opposed plates 54. In the operation of the modeling device the operator first makes impressions of the upper and lower ridges of the patient. From these impressions models of the upper and lower gum or ridges of the patient are produced. These models are mounted on the upper and lower plates 54 respectively. After these models have been mounted on the plates 54 an impression of both uppers and lowers is made in a single wax or other material and the occlusal plane'or parting line of the teeth is-definitely marked at the forward part of thisimpression. This one piece impression is placed between the upper and lower models on the plates 54 and all of the joints or adjusting means are loosened so that the upper and lower models may definitely and accurately fit into this one piece impression. As soon as everything is adjusted so that the upper and lower models definitely and accurately adjust and fit into the one-piece impression all of the adjustments are tightened in position. This provides a modeling plate or tray on which the model of the uppers or lowers respectively are in exactly the same position as they are in the mouth of the patient. The upper and lower arms are then adjusted away from each other and the one piece impression is taken out and disposed of. The trays are then definitely positioned a predetermined distance from the occlusal plane and a scale 80 on the standard 116 may well assist in this positioning. Preferably the occlusal plane is established by such means as a plate 16 which can be interposed between the modeling trays 54. With the. occlusal plane definitely established with relation to the modeling trays wax or other modeling material is built up between the trays and on the gum models to produce s. definite height on artificial gums. These gums of course may be modeled if desired to produce facial expressions as with natural ums. After the gums have been modeled to the right height the teeth are attached in the usual manner.

It will thus be seen that a modeling device has been constructed in which artificial gums will snugly and definitely fit the ridges of the patient while the teeth will mate on an even horizontal plane. This results in an even natural bite without any twist or distortion to the patients ridges.

While for purposes of illustration a particular embodiment of the invention is shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A denture modeling articulator comprising a base, a vertical standard mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms slidable on said standard, a central arm slidable on said standard, each of said arms being positioned at right angles to said standard, means for detachably locking said arms in place on said standard, articulated joints in said upper and lower arms, stop means for positioning said upper and lower arms in a plane perpendicular to said standard, upper and lower guideways on each of said arms, a sleeve on each of said arms, a key in said sleeve, said key being received in one of said guideways, a locking screw in threaded engagement with said sleeve, said screw being received in the other guideway, a post on said sleeve, a ball terminal on said post, a tray support, a socket on said tray support, said socket receiving said ball, a collar around said ball and socket, means for tightening said collar to immobilize said ball and socket, a tray on said support, an anchoring stud secured on said tray, a horizontal plane plate mounted on said central standard.

2. A denture modeling articulator comprising a base, a vertical standard mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms slidable on said standard, a central arm slidable on said standard, each of said arms being positioned at right angles to said standard, means for detachably locking said arms in place on said standard, upper and lower guideways on each of said arms, a sleeve on each of said arms, a key in said sleeve, said key being received in one of saidguideways, a locking screw in threaded engagement with said sleeve, said screw being received in the other guideway, a post on said sleeve, a ball terminal on said post, a tray support, a; socket on said tray support, said socket receiving said ball, a collar around said ball and socket, means for tightening said collar to immobilize said ball and socket, a tray on said support, an anchoring stud secured on said tray, 2. horizontal plane plate mounted on said central standard.

3. A denture modeling articulator comprising a base, a standard selectively mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms slidably mounted on said standard, a central arm slidably mounted on said standard, said arms being mounted at right angles to said standard, clamping means for locking said arms in fixed relation to said standard, sleeves slidably mounted on said upper and lower arms, means for preventing rotation of said sleeves on saidarms, clamping means for fixing said sleeves on said arms, a, post on each of said sleeves, a tray support, aball and socket joint between said post and said tray support, clamp means for locking said ball and socket joint, a tray on said support, a model anchor secured on said tray.

4. A denture modeling articulator comprising a base, a standard selectively mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms slidably mounted on said standard, a central arm slidably mounted on said standard, said arms being mounted at right angles to said standard, clamping means for locking said arms in fixed relation to said standard, sleeves slidably mounted on said upper and lower arms, means for preventing rotation of said sleeves on said arms, clamping means for fixing said sleeves on said arms, a post on each of said sleeves, a tray support, a ball and socket joint between said post and said tray support, clamp means for locking said ball and socket joint, a tray on saidsupport, a plate mounted on said central arm, said plate swingable in a plane transverse to said standard.

5. A denture modeling stand comprising a base, a standard mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms adjustably mounted on said standard, a modeling tray mounted on each of said arms, said trays being fully floating and means to lock said trays in position, a central arm adjustably mounted on said standard, an occlusal plate mounted on said central arm.

6. A denture modeling stand comprising a base, a standard mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms adjustably mounted on said standard, a modeling tray mounted on each of said arms, said trays being fully floating and means to lock said mounted on said standard, an occlusal plate mounted on said central arm, means for positioning said modeling trays, a predetermined distance from said oeclusal plate.

7. A denture modeling device comprising a base, a standard selectively mounted in said base, a pair of arms adjustably mounted on said standard, means for releasably fixing said arms on said standard, a support slidably mounted on each of said arms, clamp means for fixing said supports on said arms. a pair of modeling trays, a full floating connection between each of said trays and its respective arm, means for fixing said trays in adjusted position, an occlusal plate interposed between said trays.

8. A denture modeling articulator comprising a base, a standard selectively mounted in said base, a pair of tray arms slidably mounted on said standard, a central arm slidably mounted on said standard, said arms being mounted at right angles to said standard, clamping means for locking said arms in fixed relation to said standard. sleeves slidably mounted on said upper and lower arms, means for preventing rotation of said sleeves on said arms, clamping means for fixing saidsleeves on said arms, a post on eachot said sleeves, a tray support, a ball and socket joint between said post and said tray support. clamp means for locking said ball and socket joint, a tray on said support. means for establishing an occlusal plane between said upper and lower arms.

MYRON R. FOX.

REFEREKCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 772,304 Williams Oct. 11, 1904 1,550,339 Branson et a1 Aug. 18, 1935 2,534,023 Hirschhorn Dec. 12, 1950 

